How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

Your pre-pregnancy weight and BMI is important to consider when determining how much weight you need to gain during pregnancy. Work with your health care provider to find out what's best for you and to manage your weight throughout pregnancy.

Start by considering these guidelines for pregnancy weight gain and obesity:

• Single pregnancy. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher and are carrying one baby, the recommended weight gain is 11 to 20 pounds (about 5 to 9 kilograms).
• Multiple pregnancy. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher and are carrying twins or multiples, the recommended weight gain is 25 to 42 pounds (about 11 to 19 kilograms).

For women who have a BMI of 40 or higher, gaining less than the recommended amount or losing weight during pregnancy might lower the risk of a C-section or having a baby significantly larger than average. However, this approach also might increase the risk of having a baby whose weight is smaller than expected for gestational age.

Rather than recommending that you gain a specific amount of weight during pregnancy, your health care provider might encourage you to focus on avoiding excessive weight gain during pregnancy.